216 



Appendices to Thirty-first Annual Report 



Including over 300 tons of trawled fish brought from Iceland, the 

 quantity and value of cod, ling, etc., were about 25 per cent, greater 

 than in 1911. There was a decrease in great-line caught fish, but 

 great quantities of cod, saithe, etc., were caught by the herring 

 fishermen in summer, nearly 1000 tons of hand-line caught fish having 

 been landed at Lerwick during the season. The Foula fishermen, who 

 tried "ripper" fishing for the first time in 1911, had again a very 

 successful season, realising over £400 for their hand-line fish. 



Of all the fisheries of the district, the most unsatisfactory returns 

 were got from the small-line fishing. As compared with the preceding 

 year, there was a decrease of over 30 per cent, in the quantity and value 

 of haddocks landed, due largely to stormy weather during the first aLd 

 last quarters of the year. The greatest falling-off was at Scalloway 

 and neighbourhood, where, owing to the prevalence of west(^rly gales, 

 the landings amounted to barely a third of the previous year's catch. 



The four local steam drifters went to England in the autumn, and 

 averaged £700 at the herring fishing there. For the whole year their 

 earnings averaged £1741, or about £220 per boat for each month they 

 were employed. 



Coopers had a busy year. Both the local barrel factories were 

 working up to their full strength, and local fish-curers had over 100 

 men making barrels both before and after the herring fishing. The 

 large stocks of barrels and salt that were left over owing to the early 

 close of the Shetland fishing were all required for the English stations. 



Boat-builders were busy till the last quarter of the year. Work 

 then became slacker owing largely to the poor returns from the haddock 

 fishing, which no doubt discouraged fishermen from ordering more motor 

 skiffs for the present. 



With the exception of the drowning of a young English fisherman 

 who fell overboard, there were, fortunately, no fatal aceidents during 

 the year. One local herring boat ran ashore and was wrecked during 

 a dense fog. The loss of fishing material was not serious considering 

 the extent of the fisheries of the district. Some damage was done to 

 herring nets by British war vessels, and most of the fishermen's claims 

 are being paid by the Admiralty. 



Considerable attention is now being given to the teaching of naviga- 

 tion to fishermen in Shetland. At an examination held in spring, 14 

 students obtained skippers' certificates, and 7 got certificates of com- 

 petency as second hands. A number of local fishermen have obtained 

 service certificates. This winter, classes are being held at thirteen 

 centres in the district. 



The fishery barometers, of which there are eight in the district, are 

 generally well attended to. 



A contract has been entered into by the Lerwick Harbour Trust for 

 improvements and additions to the existing harbour works, including a 

 dock to shelter small fishing boats. The cost is to be about £34,000, 

 and it is expected that it will take three years to complete the work. 



Fishery Office, R. Dutjtie, 



Lerwick, 1th January 1913. Fishery Officer. 



III. — West Coast. 



Stornoway District. 



Herrings were landed in varying quantities from January to 

 December inclusive. The aggregate catch showed an increase of 



